Director:
Kem Singletary
(225) 763-0924
Co-Director:
Chris Morrison
(225) 763-3145
Staff:
Jennifer Terrebonne
(225) 763-3121
Animal Metabolism &
Behavior Core
Pennington Biomedical
Research Center
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Hours:
8am - 4pm M-F
Closed Holidays
PBRC HOME :: AMBC HOME :: EQUIPMENT :: PSYCHOMOTOR FUNCTION
Psychomotor Function
The open field is used to measure general activity levels and indices of motor function. In addition, it can also be used to measure anxiety by comparing the time spent in the center of the open field (indicative of less anxiety) to that spent in the periphery (indicative of more anxiety). Animals can be tested in a single session or over repeated sessions. The animal’s behavior is recorded using a video tracking system, and a variety of dependent measures can be reported including distance traveled, average speed, user defined zones entered, time spent immobile, etc.
ViewPoint Videotrack software is used to track the subject.
To learn more visit: ViewPoint Vediotrack
This task evaluates motor function and coordination. The animal is required to walk along beams of varying circumference to move from one elevated platform to another.
This task evaluates motor function and strength. The animals are placed onto a suspended wire so that they are grasping it with only their front paws. They are then scored on weather they have the ability to pull themselves up onto the wire and grasp the wire with their rear legs, or whether they fall from the wire.
The RotaRod treadmills from Med Associates are designed to accurately measure motor coordination and fatigue. Each rotarod treadmill consists of a computer-controlled stepper motor-driven drum with constant speed or accelerating speed modes of operation. The speed of the rotarod can also be manipulated to remain at several different speeds or to accelerate from a specific beginning speed to a maximum speed of 40 rpm over the course of 5 minutes. The drum has been specially machined to provide a suitable grip for the animal. For mice, it is divided into five test zones so that up to five animals may be tested at the same time. For rats it is divided into four test zones so that up to four animals may be tested at the same time. When the animal falls off the rotating drum, it breaks a photobeam which automatically records the amount of time spent on the drum. A variety of testing protocols can be implemented to encompass a single test or repeated testing across any number of intervals (day, weeks, months).
To learn more visit: Med Associates Rota-Rod
Running lane is 3.5" (9 cm) wide and 8.75" (22 cm) long. The width can be adjusted to 2" (5 cm) for mice.
The incline of Exer-Gait is fixed at horizontal but can be externally tilted for either uphill or downhill running. Tread speed is adjustable over the range of 0 to 50 centimeters per second with a resolution of 0.1 centimeter per second.The Exer-Gait XL uses TreadScan to reliably analyze the video, and determine various characteristic parameters that are related to the pathophysiological conditions. These parameters include:
- Stance time (paw on the belt)
- Swing time (paw in the air)
- Total stride time
- Stride length
- Foot contact area size (also representative of foot pressure)
- Body-foot spacing distance (distances between body and feet)
- Foot spacing distances (distance between various feet)
- Running speed
- Stride frequencies
- Foot coupling measures (in-phase or out-of-phase gait patterns of feet)
Sciatic Function Index related measures:
- Foot print placement rotation angle
- Body and toe spread factors (splay)
- Brake time (early part of stance until the paw reaches maximum contact)
- Propel time (latter portion of stance when the paw is propelling the body)
TreadScan also provides whole body movement information, including information about body rotation and body shifting (lateral and longitudinal whole body movements) during walking. Base of support information including a new measure called gait angle is also provided.
TreadScan outputs the detailed results of these parameters from analysis into Microsoft Excel files and gives statistical results to meet requirements in the research. Advanced functionalities such as batch mode analysis, group export, and direct analysis of AVI captured files, and post-hoc conversion to compressed MPEG videos to save disk-space are available. A sample screenshot of the TreadScan software is shown below. The stride data is shown on the right for each foot individually. The results are updated as the analysis takes place.
To learn more about Exer-Gait visit: Exer Gait
To learn more about TreadScan visit: CleverSys TreadScan
The Columbus Instruments Exer 3/6 Treadmill is a manually controlled system capable of exercising either 3 rats or 6 mice at one time. The running belt speed is adjustable, as is the incline (manually) up to 25 degrees in 5 degree increments. There is also an electrical stimulus that is optional. All data collection is done manually. The treadmill is used to measure exercise and endurance in rodents. For endurance testing, the animals are habituated to the treadmill for short durations on successive days. This is then followed by a single endurance test to evaluate how long they are capable of running before reaching exhaustion. For exercise training, animals are placed on the treadmill for a specific interval of time across repeated sessions.
To learn more about the Exer 3/6 Treadmill visit: Exer 3/6 Treadmill
